A Siva Lingam monument, a relic from the lost Champa Kingdom, stands proudly at the My Son site in Vietnam. Images depicting the Yoni and Lingam can be found in Hindu-influenced cultures across the entire Asian region. But the Cham religion in Vietnam has taken these images and fashioned them into a distinctive and different form. The Lingam and Yoni in the Cham religion differ from their Indian progenitors and their presence in Vietnam is evidence of the profound influence of Indian culture and religion in the country. It is also proof of the strong sense of identity of the Cham people, who borrowed from Hinduism and created statues and temples with a style all of their own. Cham Linga sculptures generally have a flat top, with only a few featuring spherical shapes. They are generally found in three different styles: square; another in two parts, one cylindrical and one square; and another has a cylindrical upper, the middle is octagonal and the bottom is square. The Linga and Yoni are usually constructed as one structure. Traditionally only one Linga is attached to the Yoni, but in some Cham sculptures many Linga can be found on a single Yoni platform. The differences between Cham sculptures and those found elsewhere in the Hindu world demonstrate subtle changes from their origins.

2,000-Year-Old Crystal Shivalingam Unearthed In Vietnam

SAIGON, VIETNAM, January 2, 2009: The Archaeology Institute and the Khanh Hoa Museum have unearthed thousands of artifacts at the site of the ancient village of Vinh Yen in the south-central province. After preliminary studies, the archaeologists determined that the ancient inhabitants who left the artifacts lived 2,000-2,500 years ago during the end of the Neolithic period and early Bronze Age.

Among the more important findings were a Shiva lingam made of rock crystal, moulds for casting bronze and iron objects, and jewelry.

Dr. Tran Quy Thinh, the leader of the excavation group, said the discoveries contribute significantly to knowledge of prehistoric development in the southern part of the central region.

Tra Kieu altar (Champa culture 192 – 1832), currently kept at the Champa Sculpture Art Museum in Danang. The altar is a typical symbol of the royal citadel of Champa in Tra Kieu.

Statue Of Lord Shiva's Mount Found At Ancient Hindu Temple In Indonesia

JAKARTA, INDONESIA, January 7, 2010: Archaeologists have found a statue of Nandi, the sacred bull that carried the Hindu God Shiva, among the ruins of what is believed to be an ancient temple at an excavation site in Yogyakarta in Indonesia. Previous discoveries at the site, which is located on the Indonesian Islamic University campus, include a statue of Ganesha, and a Shiva Linga and yoni.

"The statue is exquisite. The sculpture is carved differently from other statues of Nandi. This one is not depicted as fat," Indung Panca Putra, head of the excavation team said.

"We strongly believe the temple had a roof and its pillars were made of wood or bamboo," Indung said. He said that archeologists were working under the assumption that the pillars had not been destroyed by a volcanic mudflow hundreds of years ago, but had instead been removed by people.

Indung said that the temple ruins were different from other temples found in Central Java. "We have compared what we have found to what was found in the temples of Sambisari, Gebang and Kedulan. The comparisons have led us to believe that the material used for the temple and its statues were much harder and the sculptures are far more refined," Indung said.